About Postworksavvy

After 25 years in CEO roles at three not-for-profit children’s services organizations in Ontario, I retired and began pursuit of the ‘post-work’ journey. My blog aims to inspire readers to achieve a fulfilling and happy retirement.

There is also a selfish reason for blogging — it keeps my brain active as I write about experiences, thoughts and life changes during retirement.

Postworksavvy blog posts describe aspects of lifestyle, personal growth, ageing, and use of time during that wonderful phase of life when career worries end. Readers embarking on or contemplating their own retirement will find inspirational, smart, and creative tips for ageing successfully, achieving optimal wellness and living a full life without work. The blog posts deal with the inevitable successes, struggles and life changes of ageing with reflections on what I’ve learned and how I use these lessons to keep growing.

In my younger years, I earned masters degrees in business administration (MBA — Wilfrid Laurier University) and social work (MSW — McGill University). My busy professional career included work as a public affairs advocate, a social worker, a family and marital therapist, and a mental health specialist. I held leadership positions as the senior executive in both large and small organizations. Having fulfilled my professional and career dreams, my retirement challenge is to enjoy a new life without formal commitments, obligations or responsibilities.

I am a happy, relatively healthy, wife, mother, and grandmother living with my husband in a small Southwestern Ontario city. Blessed with a cottage at Lake Huron, I enjoy spending time on the beach, reading, writing, relaxed entertaining, and the company of family and friends who visit and provide great diversions.

23 Replies to “About Postworksavvy”

Hi,
I just noticed that I left you a comment here about 4 years ago about guest posting on our site, Retirement And Good Living.

Since then out site has grown and now includes a blog of guest posts from over 300 contributors from around the globe on many retirement related topics. The site also includes many pages on aging, health, retirement locations, travel, retirement planning and more.

Just a quick line to say hope that you are on the mend and to say how much I have enjoyed your recent blogs – D and I have done a quick appraisal on our retirment so far – some major successes and some areas for improvement!
Best wishes
Jackie

Thanks for the encouragement Jackie! It’s worthwhile to take stock of retirement from time to time or we find ourselves in a rut and wasting these precious years.
Sickness has left me in a bit of a writing slump. Hearing from readers like you gives incentive to post regularly!
Be well,
Jeanette

Hi Jeanette, I enjoyed the September post. Your recent move and how you handled it are inspiring me as I go through my own transition to new housing. By the way, there seems to be no way to comment on your post page. Do you have comments enabled in WordPress?

Hi Rin,
Thank you for your comment. I enjoy hearing from regular readers of my blog. I realize that the comments section has dropped into cyberspace. I’ve been struggling to fix the glitch but it’s beyond my scope so I’m waiting for a developer to help. It’s the technology gremlins that always bring me to my knees!
By now you will be taking the next steps in your own journey as you move from your large property. I do hope that your pets are adjusting. Isn’t it humbling to see how such changes affect them? I know how deeply change affects all of us but, we humans do our best to deny and hide the repercussions.
Be well,
Jeanette

Jeanette, I’m subscribed to your Blog and really enjoy it! I can read each entry but lately don’t find a way to Comment … I’m no longer seeing the “I welcome feedback and will reply to your comments” option at the bottom of the posts. Thanks, Lynn R.

Hi Lynn,
Thank you for the feedback about my non-working comments section and thank you for being a faithful reader. These glitches always bring me to my knees. I’ll try to get this resolved asap!
Be well,
Jeanette

Thanks for your kind words about my article in Exploring Retirement. Regardless of where we live, we are challenged to respond to political and economic challenges. We feel victimized when terrorism strikes. As I write this response, I’m comfortably seated in a wooded area adjacent to Lake Huron in Canada. It’s tranquil here but I’m acutely aware that many don’t share peaceful surroundings nor do they live in a democratic society where most people respect each other and obey the laws. We can never take such blessings for granted.
Be well,
Jeanette aka postworksavvy

Jeanette, hope this email finds you in good health and enjoying the start of fall weather. I have lost your email address and would appreciate it if you could send it to me as I have a question/request for you

Dear Jeanette,
It was a pleasure to listen to you yesterday at our library book club.
You speak with such eloquence, I was green with envy! I look forward to hearing more from you at future meetings and will be awarding myself some time very soon to reading your thoughts on this website…
Have an inspiring week-end,
Sincerely, (Betty) Elizabeth Tyrrell

Thanks for your comments and congratulations on the publication of your book. I noted that you are doing a reading on Thursday evening. I hope to attend to hear you read and support your work as an author.

Hi Jeanette, I have just discovered your website, after looking for ideas about relaxation for retired people, I have been teaching in the community. I also work as a Clairvoyant and Healer. I have a 27 year old daughter and a 10 year old son!!!!

Life has many twists and turns, and its quite strange as I always have wanted to visit Canada, and I realise you live in Toronto. I live in a very nice village in Nottinghamshire, which has many benefits. The more I see of life and people the more I realise that our own personal dramas are unfolding on a daily basis. I have read lots of books on self development and spirituality and in the case of teaching relaxation I am helping my students accept and adjust to their new situation. Some seem to find it more frustrating than others, there is a loss of personal freedom, and financial security. Also a fear of the future, the people I teach are in sheltered housing. Some have dementia, and | beleive that they unplug from the reality they find themselves in for a variety of reasons. I cannot prove this of course, however I am convinced it is true. I shall continue to read your blogs for idea’s and inspiration, Keep up the good work. Love and Light Wendy

Hello Jeanette
I enjoyed reading your blog. How right you are.. this is a huge transition in life and not to be under estimated. But a very rewarding one. I have learned that retirement brings freedom in choice and does not bring a lack of things to do or contributions. Time has a different meaning to me now and friendships are even more valued. And what a wonderful summer to experience freedom at all levels.
I will continue to read your blog and experience your fun

I am loving the blog. You write in a very engaging way and while I am busy learning a new job rather than contemplating retirement I find it quite interesting. We are missing your voice in the field but I trust you are enjoying this wonderfully warm summer. What a way to start your ‘you time’ journey. Enjoy

Jeanette! What a great site. I’ve read all your entries and they leave me wishing I was near this phase of my life as well! Great seeing you at your reception and meeting your family! Hope to see you in Grand Bend sometime!
Sara